CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-28131NVD status: Modified

encoding/xml: Uncontrolled Recursion

CVE-2022-28131 is a high-severity uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in encoding/xml from Go standard library, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 1.17.12, 1.18.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating encoding/xml to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.56% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 85% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update encoding/xml to 1.17.12 or 1.18.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Go to 1.17.12 or 1.18.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Go standard libraryencoding/xmlbefore 1.17.12; 1.18.0-0 up to, but not including, 1.18.41.17.12, 1.18.4
GoGobefore 1.17.12; 1.18.0 up to, but not including, 1.18.41.17.12, 1.18.4
Fedora ProjectFedora35Not stated
NetAppCloud Insights TelegrafNot specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Official description

Uncontrolled recursion in Decoder.Skip in encoding/xml before Go 1.17.12 and Go 1.18.4 allows an attacker to cause a panic due to stack exhaustion via a deeply nested XML document.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Recursion

The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Ensure that an end condition will be reached under all logic conditions. The end condition may include checking against the depth of recursion and exiting with an error if the recursion goes too deep. The complexity of the end condition contributes to the effectiveness of this action.

More Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerabilities (CWE-674)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in encoding/xml

All encoding/xml vulnerabilities

Recent Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.